<p>I know UConn is a good solid state school, but it's not perfect and too big for some people. Although I got in last year, I decided to go to a smaller school. Two friends got in also but went to Central CT Honors Program instead. They were in education and biology majors.They got tuition breaks and ended up really liking "most" of their class's. If you get A's in all subjects, tuition is free, or A-, tuition is half. One girl is spending only 11,000 because she lives there. Because the school is small, the honors class (like Fordham) is under 30, and not as high standard as Uconn (which is 1350 SAT-up I think) Does anyone know anyone else that has gone here....it's given good reviews in college guide books, but shadowed by UConn in a lot of obvious ways. Just curious if it was a state school safety for anyone.....the tuition break is very tempting right now!</p>
<p>i agree with you that Central CT along with the other schools are overshadow by UCONN. Kids in my school who dont get into UCONN tend to go to these schools. </p>
<p>I am not saying Central CT is bad, but i thought Southern CT was the better of the four...</p>
<p>Hi, I have a few friends that have children at all the state schools (but Western) I live near Southern....if you go on the "ratings" Southern is considered 4th tier, while Central is 3rd (if that matters) I also have read much more promising things about Central and it was the one my son's guidance counselor recommended when he said UConn was too big and too much of a "party school". Her niece went and loved it but was an honor student. I thought he wouldn't be challenged but "some" of my bias was unfounded I'm sure. If UConn didn't have the great basketball teams , it wouldn't be as popular, but I don't think that will change anytime soon and that is the way it is in college rankings. It also gets most of the state money but Central has upgraded a lot with a nice campus but it can never compete with UConn on many levels. Even if their basketball team got more popular, they wouldn't have the room to provide for very many students. UConn's old average SAT score used to be about 900 we were told at our college meeting but now they are trying to push it to 1100 with all the interest so future students wont have it as a definite safety as you're starting to see now. It's no longer known as just the "pharmacy school" as it was years ago. The rest of the schools are more of a given in acceptance, with Southern coming to schools to accept students in person many times. Connecticut might be a rich state, but it doesn't give the money it should to our state schools (except UConn of course) Southern is known as the "teaching college" but if you work hard, talk to your advisor, etc. you can get challenging class's and not feel like you are wasting your time...it just takes more work than at other institutions.</p>
<p>central has a lot of strong programs. as mentioned, they are really trying to improve the reputation/quality of the school.</p>
<p>where are the "rankings" your talking about Debruns?</p>
<p>From US News:
U.S. News ranking: Universities–Master's (North), third tier (Central)
U.S. News ranking: Universities–Master's (North), fourth tier (Southern)</p>
<p>You can see some of the rankings without paying at their site. It just doesn't elaborate. I happened to have the magazine too.</p>
<p>I don't understand how uconn is too big. </p>
<p>It's got about 14K undergrad and a ton of money from allocated to it from the government. How many does central have? Central has around 10K undergrad students.</p>
<p>If you factor in the gigantic campus size, resources available, number of profs and do total resource / student ratio - you'll see that the UConn student (especially instate) is really getting a good bang for his buck.</p>
<p>I just don't think uconn being too big - so therefore I will go to Central (a difference of 4K students comeon...) is a good reason.</p>
<p>I think Uconn being in the middle of nowhere (I'm having problems with UConn cause I don't have a car right now and it's a pain going to and off campus finding rides to parties) is a better reason than the size.</p>
<p>Want big size. Go to UNC, Michigan State, Univ. of Colorado Boulder - these colleges each have around 30K undergrad. UConn has half that and comparable amounts of resources.</p>
<p>One difference, although I agree with some of your thoughts, is that only about 3,500 stay on campus in housing. So the "feel" of it is different. Also students I've talked to at UConn seem to have many more very large intro class's compared to Central. My friends daughter said all but 1 was like her class size in high school. (25-30) UConn is like a town onto itself. And it is isolating as you have said. Maybe a lot of students I've known are on the quieter side, but it took them a long time to find a niche, it was easier for the more outgoing/party types at UConn.</p>
<p>There is no comparison guys. UConn makes central look like high school. You would have to be an idiot to turn down UConn for one of the State Universities like Central.</p>
<p>Even then it's not like New Britain is like downtown New York City or downtown Boston or something. </p>
<p>There are bars to go to here at UConn that are decent and very close to campus. It's is a self-sufficient college town so location - although rural - isn't bad if you have a car.</p>
<p>IMO, full ride tuition at Central vs. paying at UConn is the only solid reason to turn down UConn for central.</p>
<p>I agree, but money can be pretty motivating. I guess my family isn't like a lot (at least on this board) I was never that worried about getting into a college, just paying for it. She might be an anomaly, but if someone who wanted to be a teacher, could go as one girl did to Central for free (minus R&B) and then Yale's teaching program (also at a discount) and be almost without loans, I'd say go for it. But most of us, wont have those choices</p>
<p>I agree with omnisicient. If you want to get a degree from a school with a name, go to UCONN. Outside of CT, UCONN's reputation is much better than inside CT and the state universities' reputations goes completely out the window (not that they had great reputations to begin with).</p>
<p>Uconn, is definetly better than any of the state universities in terms of reputation. The reason why uconn gets a large share of the state's money, is that uconn is the state's flagship institution. Also, if you mention central to someone in maryland, they will have no idea as to what univ. you are talking about. I am a bio major with a minor in psych and human rights. The psych and biology departments are way more sound than at Central or southern. The human rights department here is outstanding, but it is hard to find internships within human rights. You actually have to form your own, and it is a requirement for the minor that you do so.</p>
<p>If you are in the sciences, UConn has always been strong. It's also a popular and cost-saving grad school for many. I think at a school like Central and other state schools, you have to be very motivated and strong student. A charismatic local sports anchor was saying he went to Eastern Ct but didn't just "go through the motions", really let his professors know he wanted to do well, look for internships, etc. The funniest story I read was from a young woman who said she went to Central "kicking and screaming" because her aid packages from Fordham and others were too low and her parents said "forget it". She was in a funk for a while and then she really loved it. She went to France for a year (paid for by her scholarship!) met her future husband there and then when she graduated, got into her second choice grad school, UCLA. She said, No pouting now, I learned you can make lemonade out of lemons. A big * in this case was she was in the "Arts" and that is a strong major at Central. I doubt the story would of been the same in something less strong.</p>
<p>I just visited Central for the same reason as the OP did, money. I too am going to try and get into their honors program(seems like all you have to do is bring in an essay and do an interview with the director).</p>
<p>A 3.2+ is a half tuition scholarship and 3.5+ is a full ride. </p>
<p>I didn't really like the school, especially compared to Uconn, but money TALKS. I don't want to be bound to CT because I chose to go to the crappy state school, but a free ride is something that would be pretty nice.</p>
<p>dank08, when you talk to Dr. Larsen, tell her positive things (besides the money) you like about Central and your fears. I notice CCSU grads listed as professors at colleges, sometimes with very good grad schools,Dr. Larsen went to UConn for grad school after Central (she was in the first honors program there) She seems like a pretty smart and upfront woman, maybe she can give you stats on where graduates go, etc. but she can't make Central "UConn" if you know what I mean.</p>
<p>I am a student at central connecticut state university and i live on campus. I just applied and got accepted to Uconn. Central is a alrightschool although their is a large population of international students cause they almost get it free and a large population of puerto ricans. The classes are good and most of the professors are also. It is a large commuter campus so it is hard to meet people that live their the majority of the kids i meet classes all seem to be commuters, so you have to meet most from your dorm. Many people at central seem low class compared to uconn probably due to the fact that it is so cheap. Party wise..theres not much to due on campus many people walk 1 mile to cedar apartments to party there but other than that they go to bars and clubs. Cental also isnt looked at in high standards when you tell someone you go there , there like ohhhh central. But Uconn is much more impressive.</p>
<p>Lbella026, this happens alot for people who attend uconn also. Uconn's reputation is hurt in the fact that many see it has a huge party scene. I know when I turned down U.V.A, penn state,and Ny, people were disappointed, and said oh uconn also. All that matters is how the school fits around you, and how you suceed in it.</p>
<p>"I know when I turned down U.V.A, penn state,and Ny, people were disappointed, and said oh uconn also. All that matters is how the school fits around you, and how you suceed in it."</p>
<p>When you told them you were going to UConn they said "oh", but if you told them Central Connecticut State University they would have said "what?" and would have thought even lower.</p>
<p>Problem is some people keep thinking of Central's name in terms of CT. Take both schools name outside of CT and the comparison is completely gone, UConn easy. An employer from Pennsylvania would more times than not have a higher opinion of the applicant with a 3.6 in English at UConn than the 3.6 English major at Central, with everything else on the resumes equal. Regardless party school or not, when comparing a name with a no-name its no contest. Full-rides/Half-rides vs. no money should be the only reason why anyone should choose Central over UConn.</p>
<p>it is a perfectly fine school with some great departments, but i will admit that the vast majority of people i've known pick central primarily for financial reasons.</p>